Infant feeding bottle support



Filed April 17. 1951 R. J. DRILL INFANT FEEDING BOTTLE SUPPORT 2Sheets-Sheet l I N V EN TOR. zazcaamr cLZPnjZZ,

1953 R. J. DRILL 2,647,714

INFANT FEEDING BOTTLE SUPPdRT F11ed.'Apri1 17 1951 v: um

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 4, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEINFANT FEEDIN G BOTTLE SUPPORT Richard Drill, East Orange, N. J.

Application April 17, 1951, Serial No. 221,498

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improved means-for supporting a feeding bottlewhile an infant or small child is being fed therefrom.

In infant feeding bottle supports comprising a stationary supportingmeans and a bottle holder to suspend the feeding bottle from thesupporting means as heretofore known, the bottle suspending holder hasusually been in the form of an articulated device made up from metallicparts, including metallic rod or wire formations having complicatedjoints, set-screws and other projecting parts. Such bottle holdingdevices are not only complicated in structure and difficult tomanipulate and adjust,-but are also costly, and by reason of their hardand rigid characteristics and their projecting and often sharp parts,the same offer considerable risk of injury to the infant or child ifaccidentally contacted by or brought in conta'ctwith the latter.

Having the disadvantages of the above mentioned heretofore known type ofinfant feeding bottle supports in view, it is an object of the presentinvention to provide an improved construction of bottle support for usein a-crib, carriageor' the like, said support comprising a stationarysupporting means and a non-metallic holder forsuspending the bottle fromthe supporting means for convenient disposition of the suspended bottlerelative to the infant or child to be fed there from.

The invention has for a further object to provide an improved infantfeeding bottle support which comprises a stationary supporting meansadapted to be stood in or otherwise suitably arranged in connection witha crib, carriage or the like in which the infant or child to be fedlies, and

so as to extend over and above the latter, together with a bottle holderwhich is slidably ad justable along the stationary supporting means,saidbottle holder being made of non-metallic material in a form adaptedto embrace and frictionally grip an inverted'bottle, whereby to hold thelatter in suspension from means. i r

The invention has for another object to provide the supporting a feedingbottle holder as abovecharacterized including a guard harness, also madeof nonmetallic material, which so cooperates with the bottle holder asto prevent accidental detachment of the bottle from theholder by thefeeding infant. or child; both said holder and said guard harness beingfree from rigid parts and projections, and consequently avoiding risk ofaccidental injury to the feeding infant or child ifcontacted by or withthe latter. i

Other objects of the invention, not at this time more particularlyenumerated, will be understood from the following detailed descriptionof said invention.

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of one form of stationary supporting meanshaving the bottle holder with its guard harness mounted thereon, andshowing a bottle operatively held by the holder and engaged by the guardharness in inverted suspension from supporting means, ready for use byan infant or child to be fed therefrom; Fig. 2 is a verticalcross-sectional view, taken on line 2-2 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is alongitudinal sectional view, taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 2, but drawn onan enlarged scale; and Fig. 4 is a plan View of the bottle holder shownin Fig. 1 but detached from the stationary supporting means, this viewbeing drawn on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modified form of stationary supporting meansand bottle holder; Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional View, taken online 6-6 in Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a plan view of the bottle holder shownin Fig. 5 but detached from the supporting means, this view being drawnon an enlarged scale.

Fig. 8 is a plan view in part section of another modified form of bottleholder as operatively applied to a bottle, but detached from thesupporting means.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above describedviews, to indicate corresponding parts.

The infant feeding bottle support according to the present inventionincludes a stationary supporting means upon which a bottle suspendingholder is mounted. This stationary supporting means may be optionallyprovided in various shapes and forms so long as it includes,essentially, at least one carrier bar with which hereinafter describedbottle holder means can be engaged for adjustable movement therealong,and with some suitable means for arranging said carrier bar in operativeassociation with a crib, carriage or the like in which the infant orchild to be fed is laid.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, one illustrative form of stationarysupporting means therein shown comprises an arcuate (preferablysemi-circular) bar [0 which is provided at its respective ends with basemembers or foot plates I i, of substantial length and width, by whichthe same can be stood in 'a crib, carriage or the like in which the 3infant or child to be fed lies, and so that the same arches over thelatter.

A form of bottle holder according to this invention adapted to besupported by the single carrier bar ID of the above-describedillustrative form of stationary supporting means comprises an annularholder band or belt I2 made of elastic material, such e. g. as anelastic fabric or webbing of suitable width. Provided in connection withthe holder band or belt 22, to project externally and radially therefromas a unitary part thereof, either in the plane thereof or in a plane ata right-angle or other angular relation thereto, is a hanger loop memberI3 which is diametrically sized to snugly fit over and around thecarrier bar in of the stationary supporting means. Preferably saidhanger loop member I3 likewise comprises an elastic material so as toconstrictively embrace the carrier bar I0, and, in such case, maycomprise an integral part of the holder band or belt I2. The holder bandor belt I2, in relaxed condition, is of diametric size somewhat lessthan the diametric size of a feeding bottle body B to be suspended fromthe carrier bar It thereby. To operatively engage the holder band orbelt I2 with the bottle body 13, the former is expanded and thentelescoped over the inverted bottle body, and then so positioned thereonas to suspend the inverted bottle from the carrier bar I at a convenientangle with the suction nipple T of the bottle downwardly directed. Whenthe bottle body B is so embraced by the holder band or belt 82, thelatter, when released, due to its elasticity and tension will contractand thus constrictively engage and frictionally grip the bottle in firmholding and supporting engagement therewith. As engaged with and aroundthe carrier bar of the supporting means, the hanger loop member 13 canbe slid in either direction along the carrier bar, whereby to bestposition the suspended bottle so as to locate the nipple T forconvenient access and engagement by the mouth of 'an underlying infantor child to be fed.

The infant feeding bottle support asthus far described, may be usedforthe feeding of a small baby without likelihood'that'the latter couldpull away or otherwise accidentally disengage the bottle Bfromthe'holder band or belt 12. When, however, the support'is used in thefeeding of an older, stronger or more active child, additional means isprovided for preventing the pulling away of the bottle from the holderband or'belt I2, or otherwise accidentally disengaging the bottle fromthe latter. Such means comprises a guard harness, an illustrative andpreferred form of which is shown in Figs. 1 to 3inclusive.

The guard harness i also made of non-metallic material of softand'fiexible characteristics, and comprises an annular bottom collarmember M preferably made of elastic'material, such e.'g. as an elasticfabric or webbing of suitable width. This collar member M is of adiametric size approximating the diametric size of the neck por tion Nof a bottle body Bwhich is to be servedby the guard harness in use.Connected with opposite sides of the bottom collar m'ember I-l, toextend longitudinally upward therefrom, are superposed inner and outertie straps I5 and I6 of length somewhat less than the length of a bottlebody B which is to be served by the guard harness in use. These tiestraps I5 and I8 are made of non-elastic materialso-as to benonstretching. The upper ends of the inner tie straps i5 arerespectively suitably affixed andanchored to opposite sides of anannular top band or collar member H, which, in normal relaxed condition,is of diametric size somewhat less than the diametric size of a bottlebody 13 which is to be served by the guard harness in use. Means areprovided for releasably securing the upper ends of the outer tie strapsI6 respectively to the anchored upper ends of corresponding inner tiestraps I5. Such means, illustratively, comiprise snap fastener device'sI8, the cooperative elements of which are respectively affixed to theupper end portions of the corresponding inner and outer tie straps atthe points of juncture of the inner tie straps with the top band orcollar member I'I.

When it is desired to use the guard harness in conjunction with thebottle holder, said uard harness is first applied to the bottle. 'Ioaccomplish this, the top band or collar member I! of the'guard harnessis expanded and telescoped over the inverted bottle body -B so that thesame is positioned adjacent to the bottom end of the bottle, with thetie straps I5 and 16 dependent from said top band or collar member H, indownward extension along opposite sides of the bottle body B, to thelower collar member I4 which, in the meantime, has been telescoped overthe neck portion-N of the bottleso as to be stopped against the shoulder-S intermediate said neck portion and the bottle body B. The guardharness having been thus operatively assembled with the bottle, the freeend portions of the outer tie straps I6 are released from normal securedrelation to the top band or collar member I1 and inner tie straps I5.This having been done, the holder band or belt I: is expandedandtelescoped over the inverted bottle body 3 and so a to pass over thetop band or collar member I1 and inner tie straps I5 of the guardharness, and then positioned to embrace the inverted bottle forsuspension thereof at a convenient angle from the supporting means.After the holder band or belt I2 is thus operatively engaged with thebottle'b'ody B, the outer 'tie straps 1-6 are closed over the holderband or belt I 2, and then secured by the fastening means, such as thesnap fasteners I8, to the top band or collarmember I1 and inner "tiestraps I5, :so that said holder band or belt 12 is enclosed between theinner tie straps I5 and the outer tie straps I6. When the guard harnessis thus operatively related-to the "holder band "or belt I 2, any downpulling force is applie'd'to the bottle suflicient to shift orslipthelatter'downwardly'throughthe holder band or belt I2, suchdownward shift or slip of the bottle willbe arrested by engagementofsaid holder band or belt I2 with the joined upper ends of the tie-straps'I5 and I6 and top band or collar member I 1. Any yielding of the guardharness relative to' the-bottle, under such circumstances, will beprevented by thet-ie strap :anchoring bottom collar member 14 which isstopped by the shoulder S of the bottle body. From the above descriptionand inspection of the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent-thatthe -means and bottle holder cooperative-therewith.

. as to arch over the latter.

In this modified form of supporting meansthe same comprises a pair ofarcuate, preferably semi-circular, carrier bars 20, laterally spacedapart in parallel relation, with their ends ailixed to base members orfoot plates 2| of substantial width and length, whereby the supportingmeans can be stood in a crib carriage or the like in which the infant orchild to be fed lies, and so The bottle holder is modified to engage andbe supported by and between the parallel carrier bars 20, and, to thisend, comprises an annular holder band or belt 22 made of elasticmaterial, such e. g. as an elastic fabric or Webbing of suitable width.The holder band or belt 22 is provided with diametrically aligned,oppositely and radially extending hanger loop members 23 to respectivelyfit over. and around the respective carrier bars 20 so as to support theholder band or belt therebetween, and subject to slidable adjustmentalong the same. It will be obvious, that the holder band or belt 22 canbe telescopically engaged over an inverted bottle body B so as toembrace and frictionally hold the same in angular suspension from thecarrier bars 20. 'It will also be under stood that the coupling hangerloop member 23 may be slid in either direction along the carrier bars,whereby to best position the suspended bottle so as to locate the nippleT thereof for convenient access and engagementby the mouth of theunderlying infant or child to be fed.

Although-in'Figs. 5 and 6 the guard harness above described has beenomitted from the show ing, it will nevertheless be understood that saidguard harness may be used in conjunction with the holder band or belt 22in the same manner and with the same advantage as hereinabove previouslydescribed.

Referring now to Fig. 8, another modified bottle holder means is therebyshown. This A modified form of holder comprises a bottle body embracingholder band or belt 25, which may or may not be made of elasticmaterial, and which is provided with one or more hanger loop members 26for coupling engagement with a carrier bar or bars of the bottlesupporting means. The holder band or belt 25 is provided with at leastone suction cup element 21, the operative face of which is projectedfrom the internal face of the holder band or belt 25. When the bottlebody B is inserted within the holder band or belt 25, the operative faceof the suction cup element 21 is opposed to the bottle body surface andis then operatively applied in gripping relation thereto. In most cases,when the suction cup provided holder band or belt 25 is used, use of theabove described guard harness may be omitted, although said guardharness may be used therewith, if desired, as an added precautionagainst accidental displacement of the bottle from the holder.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. An infant feeding bottle support comprising a stationary supportingmeans including at least one carrier rod and a bottle holder supportedthereby, said bottle holder comprising an annular holder band adapted togrippingly encircle an inverted bottle, said holder band having, as aunitary part thereof, at least one external radially projecting hangerloop member adapted to embrace a carrier rod whereby to attach theholder band thereto, said hanger loop member being adapted to beslidably moved along said carrier rod for adjusting the position of theholder band and supported bottle thereon, a guard harness cooperativewith the holder band and the inverted bottle embraced thereby, saidguard harness comprising a bottom collar memher to encircle the neck ofthe inverted bottle, pairs of non-stretchable tie straps each comprisingan inner tie strap and a superposed outer tie strap, said pairs of tiestraps being respectively afiixed to opposite sides of said bottomcollar member to extend longitudinally upward therefrom along oppositesides of the inverted bottle, a top collar member to encircle theinverted bottle body above the holder band applied thereto, the innertie straps extending across the holder band internally thereof, theupper ends of said inner tie straps being respectively affixed toopposite sides of the top collar member, the outer tie straps extendingacross the holder band externally thereof, and said inner and outer tiestraps having cooperative means for releaseably securing their upper endportionstogether.

2. An infant feeding bottle support comprising a stationary supportingmeans including at least one carrier rod and a bottle holder supportedthereby, said bottle holder comprising an annular holder band adapted togrippingly encircle an inverted bottle, said holder band having, as aunitary part thereof, at least one external radially projecting hangerloop member adapted to embrace a carrier rod whereby to attach theholder band thereto, said hanger loop member being adapted to beslidably moved along said carrier rod for adjusting the position of theholder band and supported bottle thereon, and said holder band having asuction cup element mounted thereon to project from its internal surfaceand adapted to grip the bottle embraced by said holder band.

3. An infant feeding bottle support comprising at least one archedcarrier rod provided at its opposite ends with foot plates to hold thesame in erect upstanding position, and a bottle holder, said bottleholder comprising an annular holder band adapted to grippingly encirclean inverted bottle, said holder band having, as a unitary part thereofat least one external radially projecting hanger loop member adapted toembrace a carrier rod whereby to attach the holder band thereto, saidhanger loop member being adapted to be slidably moved along said carrierrod for adjusting the position of the holder band and supported bottlethereon, a guard harness 00- operative with the holder band and theinverted bottle embraced thereby, said guard harness comprising a bottomcollar member to encircle the neck of the inverted bottle, pairs ofnon-stretchable tie straps each comprising an inner tie strap and asuperposed outer tie strap, said pairs of tie straps being respectivelyaffixed to opposite sides of said bottom collar member to extendlongitudinally upward therefrom along opposite sides of the invertedbottle, a top collar member to encircle the inverted bottle body abovethe holder band applied thereto, the inner tie straps extending acrossthe holder band internally thereof, the upper ends of said inner tiestraps being respectively affixed to opposite sides of the top collarmember, the outer tie straps extending across the holder band externallythereof, and said inner and outer tie straps having cooperative meansfor releaseably securing their upper end portions together.

4. An infant feeding bottle support comprising a stationary supportingmeans including at least one carrier rod and a bottle holder supportedthereby, said bottle holder comprising an annular holder band adapted togrippingl-y encircle the body of an inverted bottle, said holder bandhaving, as a unitary 'part thereof, at =1east one external radiallyprojecting hanger loop member adapted to embrace a carrier rod wherebyto attach the holder band thereto, and a guard harness cooperative withthe holder band and the inverted bottle embraced thereby, said guardharness comprising a bottom collar member to encircle the neck of theinverted bottle, a top collar member to encircle the inverted bottlebody above the holder band applied thereto, and non-stretchable tiemeans attached to and extending longitudinally between said bottom andtop collar members and across the holder band.

5. An infant feeding bottle support comprising a pair of laterally andparallelly spaced apart arcuate carrier rods, flat foot plates to whichrespective ends of said carrier rods are affixed whereby to support thesaid carrier rods in arched extension therebetween, a bottle holdercomprising an annular holder band adapted to grippingly encircle thebody of an invertedbottle, and said holder band having externallyprojecting hanger loop members extending respectively from diametricallyopposite sides of the same and adapted to respectively embrace therespective carrier rods whereby to support said holder band in bridgingextension between the latter, said hanger loop members being adapted tobe slidably moved along said carrier rods for adjusting the position ofthe holder band thereon 8 and thereby the suspended position of thesupported bottle.

6. An infant feeding bottle support according to claim 5 including aguard harness cooperative with the holder band and the inverted bottleembraced thereby, said guard harness comprising a bottom collar memberto encircle the neck of the inverted bottle, pairs of non-stretchabletie straps each comprising an inner tie strap and a superposed outer tiestrap, said pairs of tie straps being respectively ailixed to oppositesides of said bottom collar member to extend longitudinally upwardtherefrom along opposite sides of the inverted bottle, a top collarmember to encircle the inverted bottle body above the holder bandapplied thereto, the inner tie straps extending across the holder bandinternally thereof, the upper ends of said inner tie straps beingrespectively affixed to opposite sides of the top collar member, theouter tie straps extending across the "holder band externally thereof,and said inner and outer tie straps having cooperative means forreleasably securing their upper end portions together.

RICHARD J. DRILL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,082,808 'Hubbard Dec. 30, 1913 1,863,163 Malti et a1 June14, 1932 2,269,609 Taylor .Jan. 13, 1942

